Friday 12 October 2012
United Kingdom
Pig farmr says I've had enough I'm out
"I have been in the pig industry for 50 years and have been sold down the river by meat buyers, so-called professional advisors, supermarkets, politicians and the catering trade," says Nottinghamshire producer in a letter to Pig World.
"After a lifetime of blood, sweat and tears and being beaten into submission, I am now retiring."
In his letter Jim Hadley says, "We have only made a profit in three to four out of the last fifteen years. The rest have either been breakeven or we have lost vast amounts of money. The pig industry can't get it's act together like the rest of the British livestock industry.
"Our costs go up and we receive less. The meat traders never seem to lose out, all riding round in their BMW and Mercedes cars. They would sooner use foreign meat instead of paying extra for welfare-friendly British pork."
Jim Hadley continues, "In 1997 we were told that our pigs would be worth 10p/kg more when the stall ban came in. Where is it? We were 80 percent self-sufficient in pigmeat and are now down to 45 percent. Why?
"For pig producers to have enough money to make a profit and reinvest in their units the price we receive per pig has to equal the cost of one tonne of wheat. Until this happens the pig industry will be in constant decline."
Farming News Daily Supporting British Pig Farmers
Source: pig world
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